He stared morosely at his hands. "I'm sorry. I guess I did spring the story a bit too suddenly. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all, done a quiet fade-out." "I think I'd rather have known what happened to you than otherwise." She traced a design on the blanket with one slim finger, then said, "Andy, you made a remark in the car--about avoiding what you called romantic complications. Were you avoiding them because you were eventually going away with this Nela female?" He nodded. "Something like that." "Wasn't it because you were in love with her?" "Why, I ... I don't think so." He was startled. "I guess it's true that I had a crush on her as a kid, but I haven't seen her for fifteen years. I hardly feel I ever knew her." "Then even though you're going away with her, there is someone you care for?" He hesitated for an aching instant, finally managed a shrug. "It isn't important. Not any more." "It is--to me. Andy, this is no time for historical novel gallantry or radio soap opera self-renunciation. This is the last chance we'll ever have to be completely frank with each other." Her dark eyes were intent. "Andy, do you love me?" "I ... well--" He groped in confusion, with the feeling that he had suddenly found himself on a tight-rope, hundreds of feet in the air. Then he nodded miserably. "Yes." "Then just why did you take it for granted that I was Dave's girl?" Ellen demanded bitterly. "I thought Dave was the one you were interested in. He was my best friend, and I didn't want to--" "You thought! Didn't it ever occur to you to find out?" * * * * * He made a helpless gesture. "I wanted to, Ellen--but I don't see what good it could have done. I was going away, you know." "Don't you think I could have changed your mind about that? Don't you think I can change your mind--even now?" Abruptly she leaned toward him, her small face lighted as though by some fierce inner fire, at once pleading and demanding. "Andy--kiss me!" Despite himself, that fire touched him, kindled to a blaze. His lips met hers with a quickening pressure, his hands slipped from her shoulders to draw her tightly against him. For long seconds nothing else had reality or importance. The glade dissolved around him, and he seemed to float in a dark sea that rose and fell with a wild rhythm. Then awareness of his act exploded in him. He released the girl abruptly and drew away. "It's hopeless, Ellen! I can't back down now." She shook her dark head in swift protest. "It isn't hopeless, Andy. It isn't too late. I just proved that to you." "But Nela is depending on me. I can't let her down." "You owe her nothing! She took advantage of you at a time when you weren't mature and experienced enough to exercise good judgment. Why should you feel obligated to her now?" "I agreed to go with her. If I let her down, she won't be able to obtain a replacement with my particular type of training. She can visit this point in time only once."